dementia_divine

In the decant: Aww yiss. Cardamom-laced cream cheese frosting and spiced pumpkin cake. This smells delicious. The cardamom note makes me think of a cardamom bun I had in Sweden. Wet: I'm getting lots of cardamom cream cheese frosting, followed by the cinnamon, and then the clumps of cake. Dry: I am still getting a lot of cardamom, but less of the sweetness of the cream cheese frosting. The pumpkin cake note is also stronger during this stage, making it mostly cardamom-y pumpkin cake. Verdict: This smells delicious. I am considering a bottle (but it will depend on how hard the Yules hit me, since that is one of my favorite updates).

In the bottle: Far more spiced pumpkin forward than the bath oil of the same name, I think. But I do get a fair amount of sticky marshmallow goo, too! Wet: Yep, this is way more spiced pumpkin on me than marshmallow. It's so cinnamon-y, that it reminds me of cinnamon candy, like Red Hots. The marshmallow is present, but in the background, adding its gooey sweetness to the very cinnamon-forward scent. I have sensitive skin, but fortunately, this one hasn't burnt me yet. Dry: I didn't get to pay close attention to this all evening due to pumpkin carving, but several hours later, the marshmallow ends up being the dominant note, so that it's mostly sweet marshmallow goo with the spices from the pumpkin note in the background. I prefer this phase. Verdict: I'm surprised at how much more heavily spiced this is than the bath oil, but the marshmallow I know and love came out more during the dry phase, so I'm glad to have a bottle! Thanks to my lovely Witch for getting this for me!

In the decant: A very realistic pine. Wet: Pine backed by florals. I'm not sure if it is the moonflower, opium poppy, or both. Although the pine note is currently the dominant, the florals in this are quite strong. I think I'm getting the poppy and not the moonflower, but I could be wrong. Dry: The pine really does smell like it is enshrouded in mist. The florals have softened around the edges, but still remain rather strong. The pine also seems somewhat sweeter to me during this phase. It's not a menacing pine, although sometimes it does feel like it is trying to reach up through the florals, as Failmingo noted above. Verdict: I do think this one fits the description. I don't feel the need to obtain more of it, as I guess I prefer my pine notes without florals, but it is nice. I'm glad I was able to try it.

In the bottle: When I first smelled this, I thought it may have the same, sweet, sugared pine snow note of Snow Bunny. Now, I'm not so sure. (I haven't had the atmosphere spray for ages, so I can't compare.) I get the perfume-y, sweet snow note that reminds me of that, but I also get a ton of pine and/or spruce from this, along with some citrus. Wet: Citrus and tree needles mingled with a sugary snow note (not the one from Snow White and Go to Sleep, Darlings). It's a slushy, citrus-y, somewhat minty, ozonic snowball covered in pine needles. Dry: This is mostly sugared, lightly minty, coniferous snow with some warm vanilla finally starting to emerge in the background. The vanilla ice cream note comes out more over time, but it is still a lot softer than the coniferous snow note. Verdict: It's not the sweet snow note I had been hoping for (although it is sugared), and I was also hoping the vanilla would be stronger on me. Still, it's a nice snow scent, and I will keep it around and wear it around Yule. Maybe I'll end up getting more of the vanilla with age.

In the bottle: Lilith's lavender backed by vanilla and a hint of coconut. Wet: I'm getting more coconut on my skin than I did in the bottle. The lavender reigns, followed by the coconut, and then the vanilla. Dry: UNNNF. SO AMAZING. The vanilla just keeps increasing in strength. On my wrists, it's all about the soft lavender blending with the vanilla and coconut. The lavender is a lot stronger in the crooks of my elbows. Verdict: I adore sweet lavender blends (lavender and vanilla combos are my favorite), and this one is no exception! I'm in a cloud of sugared lavender awesomeness! I don't think one bottle will be enough!

In the bottle: This is predominantly fresh Snake Oil, although I do smell some of the pumpkin spice. Wet: Okay, I actually am getting more of the pumpkin spice in this on my skin. I applied some Pumpkin Spice Everything hair gloss to my hair before testing it, so I know it's the pumpkin spices (and not just fresh Snake Oil spices) that I'm getting here. Dry: I actually prefer this to fresh Snake Oil on its own, because that is more musky and medicinal on me, so I usually prefer my Snake Oil aged or with something added to it. With Pumpkin Spice Snake Oil, I got the Snake Oil spices and the pumpkin spices for a while (no actual pumpkin – just the spices, just like in Pumpkin Spice Everything), and the vanilla really shined through in the end, which is something that doesn't normally happen with all Snake Oil plus scents on me. Verdict: This one is a keeper! I don't think I prefer it over Snakes in the Pumpkin Patch, and I don't feel the need to grab any back-ups, but it's a nice Snake Oil plus blend that I'm glad to have in my collection, and I look forward to seeing how it ages.

In the bottle: Straight up Perversion. I'm not really getting any of the pumpkin spice in the bottle. Hopefully that will change on my skin! Okay, I do get the spices on my skin. They're lingering behind the leather-wine-tonka-and-tobacco-awesomeness of Perversion. Unfortunately, they are very short-lived. This ends up being like regular Perversion, and it remains so after a full day of wear. I only get a hint of the pumpkin spice when I press my nose to my arm in order to smell it. Verdict: I'm a fan of Perversion, so I will be keeping my bottle and hoping that the pumpkin spice will emerge more with age. However, if you were hoping that the spices would be a strong component, you might have better luck layering Pumpkin Spice Everything with the original GC.

In the decant: Very floral. I could be mistaken, but the sunflower note makes me think of the discontinued All in the Golden Afternoon. I can smell a bit of the oak bark in the background. Wet: The floral notes reign. I believe it's the sunflower note that is in the lead. I'm not getting any of the vanilla-tinged oak bark or the bit of sugary breakfast cereal on my skin at this time. Dry: Ah, there's the sugary breakfast cereal! I can smell it behind the sunflowers. Verdict: I had to try this one because I liked the idea of the floral notes accompanied by the vanilla part of the oak bark note and the sugary part of the cereal. While I enjoy the scent, I was hoping it would be more sugary. I don't think I need a bottle, but I'm glad that I got a chance to try it.

In the decant: Pomegranate-flavored cotton candy (more pomegranate heavy than cotton candy heavy). Wet: Pomegranate, with the spun sugar note helping to temper the tartness. Dry: This ends up becoming sweeter and more candy-like over time, and the pomegranate has calmed down significantly. Verdict: I am not really a pomegranate fan, but I wanted to try this because of the cotton candy. I figured I might as well try it since I ordered decants of pretty much all of the other scents, and if any scent would get me to like pomegranate, it would be this one. Alas, that was not the case. I guess this fruit will never be my jam. But if you happen to be a fan of pomegranate, you can't go wrong with this one!

In the decant: Syrup-y cinnamon bun-y leather (like the glaze from the cinnamon buns is sticking to it) along with some woody oudh. Wet: The cinnamon bun note (particular, the sticky glaze) is the strongest note, with the leather right behind it. This makes me think more of a monkey bread type glaze than the clear or white glaze that I typically associate with cinnamon buns. Dry: Still sticky cinnamon buns clinging to a smooth, brown leather. After a while, the sweet, sticky glaze of the cinnamon buns goes away, so that the soft, brown leather ends up dominating this scent. The cinnamon bun note is still present, but it's a lot softer now, and more like the inside of a cinnamon bun. The oudh note is present, but adding a warm, woodiness to the scent without overpowering the brown leather or the cinnamon bun. I really enjoy this phase. Verdict: This one is too sticky-sweet for me during the wet phase. I vastly prefer the scent after it has been dry for a few hours, and the sticky quality goes away. I'm glad that I was able to try it, but I don't think I need a bottle. That said, I will be holding onto my decant! I'm curious to see how it will age.

In the decant: I'm getting some of the honey, olive blossom, and saffron, but it's actually a bit difficult to pick out the notes in this one! Wet: This one is staying really close to the skin. The honey and olive blossom are the strongest notes on me. Then, the saffron and amber pop up, and after that, the coconut milk, adding a soft, creamy quality to the scent. I am not getting any leather at this point. Dry: It's soooo light! The coconut milk seems to dominate now, with some soft amber residing in the background. It's such a light, fresh, clean scent. After a while, the amber ends up being the most prominent note, and I can still smell some of the olive blossom, honey, and saffron. Still no leather, though! Verdict: This one is pleasant, but it's just so light that it's difficult to smell it over the other scents on my arm. I'm glad I was able to try it, but I don't see a bottle in my future.

In the decant: Already chewed strawberry bubblegum with a bit of a clean vibe from the other notes. Wet: The strawberry bubblegum note reigns, but it isn't overly bubblegum-y because the lavender, vanilla, and I'm guessing chalk dust are giving this a shampoo-like quality. Dry: Well, now it is unfortunately reminding me of the scent of sunscreen after having slathered it on and immersing oneself in a pool. WHAT EVEN. Verdict: I was hoping for lavender and vanilla, but that is not what I am getting here, sadly. This one is definitely not for me.

In the decant: This smells like dry Cap'n Crunch Berries on every initial sniff I take. But subsequent sniffs just make me think of fake berry. Wet: This... actually does smell like Cap'n Crunch Berry cereal on me at first. The berries and cream are stronger than the pancake note on me, which doesn't really remind me specifically of pumpkin pancakes. Every once in a while, the pancake note bursts through the berries and cream, but combined with the berries and cream, those brief pancake moments continue to remind me more of cereal than pumpkin pancakes with real berries and cream on top. Dry: Strong, artificial berries and cream, with burst of the cereal-like pancake note every once in a while. Verdict: I was hoping this would be heavy on the pumpkin pancakes. Alas, that is not the case on me. I'm not really a fan of berry-heavy scents, so I'll be passing on my decant.

In the decant: Smooth patchouli, possibly the one from Banshee Beat/Revenant Rhythm, with a touch of fig and almond. Wet: The patchouli reigns, followed by the cool pine note, which I think may be the one featured in Golden Priapus. But then the fig emerges, so that it is mostly patchouli and fig on my skin, followed by the pine. Dry: Still mostly patchouli, fig, and pine. Verdict: This one is pleasant, but I prefer A Moment in Time for a patchouli and fig scent. The addition of the pine is really nice, though, so I think I will hang onto my decant and wear it again around Yule. Maybe the vanilla will come out more with age!

In the decant: Crushed jellybeans, followed by cotton candy. (But mostly, crushed jellybeans.) Wet: Cherry candy, more like a lollipop on me than jellybeans. Then, it turns into cherry Kool Aid. Dry: Well, now I am getting the waxy coating of the jellybeans. There is a teeny hint of what could be sugar cookie in the background, but it is buried under all of this waxy jellbean. After a few hours, the vanilla frosting note does appear, but alas, the waxy jellybean still reigns. Woe! Verdict: I was lured by cotton candy and vanilla frosting, but those things were not the main players on me. Both the phases of this scent weren't particularly pleasant on my skin, so this one is not for me.

In the decant: This reminds me of lavender and leather. Perhaps it's the inky musk and the green oudh that's giving it a 'leather' vibe to my nose. Wet: The lavender note is the most prominent, and I'm glad, because that's what I was hoping for! This is a soft, herbal lavender, like a lavender sachet you might put in your drawer. I am not getting any of the leatheriness that I was getting inside the decant. Dry: The lavender continues to reign, backed by the inky musk. The amber and oudh are there, but I have to press my nose really close to my arm to smell those notes. After a while, the inky musk, possibly in collaboration with the oudh, does end up giving me that leather vibe that I originally got from the decant. After a few hours of wear, I mainly get the resins. Verdict: I normally prefer my lavender with something sweet (like vanilla), but I enjoy this. I'm going to give it a full day's wear before deciding whether or not I need to upgrade to a bottle, but in any case, I will certainly cherish my decant.

In the decant: Mostly jasmine, followed by the Spanish moss, and then a bit of dandelion. Wet: Oh hai, jasmine! You are very, very strong. I hope you will allow the other notes to shine at some point. As usual, it does seem to be getting sweeter with time. Dry: Although I'm not too familiar with osmanthus, I think I am getting it along with the jasmine now. I can also smell the Dorian in the background, behind the florals and moss. The florals and moss made me sneeze at one point, but now they are starting to soften around the edges. Hours later, the Snake Oil pops up, but it is very faint, content to hide behind the flowers and the moss notes. Verdict: I wish I had gotten more of the dandelion, Dorian, and Snake Oil. This is a nice jasmine that doesn't end up overwhelming, and although I like it, I think just the decant will suffice.

In the decant: The lily note was strongest when this first arrived. After a few days of settling, I can smell all of the notes. The honey and sage make this a lot herbier than I was anticipating. Wet: Heady, honeyed honeysuckle and lily, with an herbal bite from the sage. Dry: The honeyed florals continue to dominate (with the honeysuckle being stronger on me), and the white sage continues to linger in the background. After a few hours, it is mainly honeyed honeysuckle. This is more like the honeysuckle I remember from my childhood than the one found in the Wild Honeysuckle SN. Verdict: I am glad that I was able to try this. This is a lot headier than I was anticipating, so it's one that I will have to avoid slathering. I already own the Wild Honeysuckle SN, so I'll have to give this a full-day wear to determine whether or not I really need to have a bottle of both. In any case, I'll keep my decant around, so I can pair it with Nectar hair gloss during the warmer months.

In the decant: This definitely smells classic, all right. Wet: Perfume-y florals, moss, and a citrus component, perhaps bergamot, maybe neroli (but if it is neroli, it isn't turning horrible on me). It smells warm and cozy and like being enveloped in a soft blanket. I think that sandalwood could be lending to that vibe, as well as orris root, because I am now getting a lot of powderiness, for lack of a better word, that I normally get from orris. I am also starting to get some sweet jasmine as it dries down. Dry: This is getting sweeter and more powdery on me. It reminds me of a woman sitting at a vanity, looking in a mirror, powdering her face, and dabbing on some perfume one final time before leaving the house. After a while, a musk note emerges and seems to get stronger over time. Verdict: This one isn't really me, but I can see why it's well-liked. I'm really glad that I was able to try it, and I plan on holding onto my decant to see how it ages.

Honeyed mint and peach marshmallow. Thanks to my lovely fairy for picking this one up for me! In the bottle, I can smell all the notes, and there isn't just a hint of the honeyed mint -- it's like the peppermint from the Lick It scents with peach and marshmallow. The honeyed mint is very strong at first while the scent is on my wrists. In the crook of my elbows, I get more of the peach marshmallow, though the honeyed mint is still there -- just not as strong. Eventually, it ends up being a marshmallow dominant scent with the honeyed aspect playing a larger role than the mint itself, which has calmed down significantly and is now just a hint. The peach is also confined to a background role by this stage. I would say it's like a cousin to Give Me Thy Breath, My Sister, but there's marshmallow instead of cotton candy, peach instead of greenery, and the honeyed mint is far more prominent at first. In other words, I love it and am very happy to have a bottle. Marshmallow lovers, you will not be disappointed! It's even better than I had imagined it would be. ❤️

BAD DRAGON! BAD! Cherry blossom, bourbon vanilla, rice milk, and white sandalwood. Random note: This scent shares artwork with a past BPAL event exclusive: BPTP's Housebreaking Your Dragon atmosphere spray. In the bottle: Lots of cherry blossom, white sandalwood, and rice milk. I am not detecting the bourbon vanilla note in the bottle, but I hope it makes an appearance on my skin! Wet: Cherry blossom takes the center stage. Then, it calms down a bit, and the rice milk ends up sidling up next to it, and threatens to overtake it, but doesn't quite succeed. They both end up being main players, until the white sandalwood begins to emerge after a few minutes and decides to sidle up to them. It's increasing in strength over time, but not the most prominent note. Dry: This ends up being a soft, somewhat clean scent. The rice milk and white sandalwood are the dominant notes during this phase of the scent on me, and although white sandalwood can sometimes be really dry on me, this one hasn't been problematic. The cherry blossom is still present, but it's been confined to a background role. I'm not getting any of the bourbon vanilla from this, but perhaps it will come out with age? Verdict: I thought this would be like a Shunga in Dragon form, and it is! It's not the cherry blossom + vanilla that I was hoping for, but it's still a nice scent. I'm going to hold onto my bottle and hope the vanilla comes out after some aging!

In the imp: Ylang ylang and honey, with just a bit of patchouli, clove, and fig. Wet: Ylang ylang and honey, followed by the warmth of the patchouli and clove. After a bit, the fig starts to peek out. Dry: The patchouli and clove gain prominence, and the fig also plays a greater role in this phase, although it's still a background note on me. Patchouli, clove, and honey end up being the main players after a few hours of wear. Verdict: I originally wanted to try this to see if the patchouli + fig combo would remind me of A Moment in Time, and I like clove. This isn't unpleasant, but it's not really me, either. I'm glad I was able to try it, though!

In the imp: I'm getting what I'm guessing is the olive blossom, along with jasmine and champaca flower, accompanied by the smokiness of the vanilla, the honey, and finally, just a touch of cinnamon. Wet: The first notes that jump out at me are the olive blossom and the jasmine, but then the champaca flower emerges and quickly becomes one of the most prominent notes. The honey is stronger than the smoky vanilla, which I get more of the smoky aspect from than vanilla at the moment, and the cinnamon starts out as just a hint, but ends up getting stronger rather quickly. Dry: Smoky champaca, olive blossom, sweet jasmine, and honey with just a hint of cinnamon. After a few hours, it remains a smoky floral scent, with the honey and vanilla adding more sweetness over time. Verdict: I really enjoy this! I'm going to hold onto my imp and see how often I reach for it before springing for a bottle, though.

In the imp: Heady palmarosa and rose. Wet: Yep, lots of palmarosa and rose. Dry: Still predominantly heady palmarose and rose. I'm not getting much red sandalwood or patchouli. After a few hours of wear, the sandalwood and patchouli come out, but I'm mostly getting the palmarosa and rose with patchouli, and not a lot of sandalwood. Verdict: This one isn't really my cup of tea.

In the imp: Heady orange blossom and honey, rose, and finally, the sandalwood. Wet: Heady honey and orange blossom are the dominant notes, but I can smell more of the rose and sandalwood on my skin than I did in the imp. The sandalwood note ends up gaining strength as it sits on my skin. Dry: Predominantly heady honey and sandalwood, followed by the orange blossom and rose. Verdict: Too much orange blossom for me to handle, but I thought it was better on me than it was in the imp!